Press Releases

March 9, 2005

Chicago Tribune, AP photographer, Indiana TV station in top honors

BC-Headliner Awards
With BC-Headliner Awards-List

By JOHN CURRAN
Associated Press Writer

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) -- Chicago Tribune foreign correspondent Paul Salopek and Associated Press photographer Khalid Mohammed captured the top spots in the 71st annual National Headliner Awards.

Radio station WNYC of New York and television news station WTHR-TV of Indianapolis were also honored with Grand Awards, the highest honors bestowed as part of the national journalism contest run by The Press Club of Atlantic City.

The four Grand Awards, each of which come with $1,500 prizes, will be presented -- along with dozens of other Headliner Awards -- at a May 14 banquet at the Atlantic City Convention Center. The winners were announced Wednesday.

Salopek's five-article entry, which also won top honors in the feature writing category, was lauded by judges for its clarity, organization and narrative skill.

"Girded by exhaustive reporting, Salopek's stories present the wonders and horrors of a troubled part of the world in aching detail," the judges said.

"His subjects -- child brides, witchcraft, fishing wars -- are eye-popping, but his controlled, masterful writing never succumbs to mere pyrotechnics. Rather, he furnishes fine details, presented with care, that reward the reader at every turn. Just as rewarding are the structures of his stories, which reflect intelligence at work and contribute to his remarkably authoritative voice," they said.

Mohammed, an AP stringer in Baghdad, won best spot news photograph for his photo of corpses hanging from a bridge in Iraq.

"Khalid Mohammed's photo of the burned American bodies hanging from the bridge in Iraq is a news photo that will be ingrained in the public's mind for years to come. It will be one of those images that will be studied for its horrific depiction of war. The photographer was there as a witness, and recorded the event as it was in his viewfinder, reflecting news that was raw and unnerving, and as it happened," the judges said.

WNYC's Jad Abumrad, Aaron Cohen and Elena Park won best feature story and the Grand Award in radio for "The Ring and I: The Passion, The Myth, The Mania," a piece about Richard Wagner's famous opera and its fans.

"A richly produced, informative, entertaining, humorous and classical radio presentation on the modern-day influences of a 125-year-old opera production. This program is for both the trained and untrained ears of folks who love great art, an opera that takes real dedication to experience it all," the judges said.

WTHR-TV's Anne Ryder, Steve Starnes and Jason Richards won in the category of documentary or series of reports for "To Hell and Back," which chronicled a fiery car wreck and its aftermath for the victims. Judges called it "brilliant," albeit hard to watch.

"The piece follows the victims almost from the moment of the fire to their release from the hospital. Unflinching coverage and total immersion brings the viewer face-to-face with the victims, the families and the doctors," they said.

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BC-NJ--Headliner Awards-List
List of winners in 71st annual National Headliner Awards
With BC-NJ--Headliner Awards, Bjt

Winners of the 71st annual National Headliner Awards, sponsored by The Press Club of Atlantic City, N.J., by category, followed by second- and third-place finishers:

PRINT DIVISION
Daily Newspapers
Writing and Reporting
Spot News: Associated Press, for "Tsunami Coverage"; The Miami Herald, "The Fall of Aristide; Crisis in Haiti"; The Record of Bergen County, Hackensack, N.J., "McGreevey Resigns."

News Beat Coverage: The Wall Street Journal, Greg Jaffe, "Covering the Iraq War"; The Miami Herald, Joe Mozingo, "Crisis in Haiti"; San Francisco Chronicle, Kevin Fagan, "The Homeless."

News Series, circulation up to 75,000: The San Bernardino (Calif.) Sun, George Watson and Guy McCarthy, "Unnatural Disasters"; Tri-City Herald, of Kennewick, Wash., Jeff St. John, "Tyson Meatpacking Safety"; Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, of Ontario, Calif., Sara A. Carter, "Gangland-Jamie's Story."

News Series, circulation over 75,000: Knight Ridder, Washington, D.C., Jonathan Landay, Warren Strobel and John Walcott, "How the Bush Administration Went to War in Iraq"; Star Tribune, Minneapolis, Larry Oakes, "The Lost Youth of Leech Lake"; South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Sally Kestin and John Maines, "Marine Mammals: Below the Surface."

Local Interest Column on a Variety of Subjects: The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, Connie Schultz; Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Robert L. JamiesonJr., The Hartford Courant, Helen Ubinas.

Special or Feature Column on One Subject: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, John Kessler, "Restaurant Reviews"; The Charlotte (N.C.) Observer, Mary C. Curtis, "Faith Values"; Rocky Mountain News, Denver, Colo., Lisa Ryckman, "Health and Fitness."

Editorial Writing: San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News, David Yarnold and Daniel Vasquez, "Money and Influence"; Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader, Jamie Lucke, "Smoking Ban"; St. Louis Post-Dispatch, John G. Carlton, "Charity Care and the Bottom Line."

Sports Writing: First Place: Orlando Sentinel, Rick Maese; Associated Press, Jim Litke; The (Portland) Oregonian, John Canzano.

Feature Writing on a Variety of Subjects: First Place and Grand Award in Print: Chicago Tribune, Paul Salopek; St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times, Lane DeGregory; San Francisco Chronicle, Marianne Costantinou.

Newspaper Magazine Writing: The Hartford Courant, Jeffrey B. Cohen, "War Widow"; The Albuquerque Tribune, Jan Jonas, "All for Mooda"; The Boston Globe, Neil Swidey.

Business News Coverage: San Francisco Chronicle, David Lazarus, "Consumer Column"; Detroit Free Press, Tamara Audi, Jamie Butters and Jeffrey McCracken, "GM and the New World"; The Boston Globe, Beth Healy, "Trustees Overseers & Oversights."

Education Writing: Dayton (Ohio) Daily News, Scott Elliott and Mark Fisher, "Flunking the Test"; St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times, Anita Kumar, "Higher Education"; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Bill Schackner.

Health-Medical-Science Writing: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Dan Egan, "Troubled Waters: The Great Invasion"; The Wall Street Journal, Amy Dockser Marcus, "Treating Cancer"; The Boston Globe, Gareth Cook, "Stem Cells."

Investigative Reporting: Chicago Sun-Times, Tim Novak and Steve Warmbir, "Clout on Wheels"; Erie (Pa.) Times-News, Peter Panepento and Kevin Flowers, "Mayor Rick Filippi"; The Miami Herald, Manny Garcia and Jason Grotto, "Justice Withheld."

Public Service: The Philadelphia Daily News, Myung Oak Kim, "School Zones of Danger"; The Orange County (Calif.) Register, "Toxic Treats"; The Hartford Courant, "Gov. John G. Rowland."

Distinguished College Journalism: St. Mary's University of San Antonio, Texas, "The Rattler"; Adelphi University, Garden City, N.Y., "The Delphian"; no third place given.

Editorial Cartoons: The Washington Post, Tom Toles; Star Tribune, of Minneapolis, Steve Sack; Akron (Ohio) Beacon Journal, Chip Bok.

Magazines
Writing and Reporting
Coverage of a Major News Event: National Journal, Richard E. Cohen, Kirk Victor and David Baumann, "The State of Congress"; U.S. News & World Report, "A Long Journey Home"; Newsweek, "The Roots of Torture."

Feature Writing on a Variety of Subjects: U.S. News & World Report, Roger Simon; National Journal, Paul Starobin; Glamour, Sheila Weller.

Special Column on One Subject: Newsweek, Anna Quindlen; Newsweek, Fareed Zakaria; Time magazine, Joe Klein

News Services and Syndicates
Writing and Reporting
Feature Writing on a Variety of Subjects: Copley News Service, S. Lynne Walker; Associated Press, Tim Sullivan; Associated Press, Martha Irvine.

Columns or Commentary: Bloomberg News, Caroline Baum, "Conventional Economic Wisdom Can Be Hazardous to Your Thinking"; Associated Press, Lynn Elber, "Television Stories"; Rick Horowitz Column, Rick Horowitz.

Photography and Graphics
Newspapers
Spot News: The Orange County (Calif.) Register, Mark Rightmire, "Just Before the Crash"; Second Place: The Miami Herald, Peter Andrew Bosch, "The Unclaimed"; The Philadelphia Inquirer, David Swanson, "Fierce Battles Rage."

Feature Photography: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Robert Cohen, "Pursuit of Happiness" ; San Francisco Chronicle, Liz Mangelsdorf, "Historic Marriages"; Daytona Beach (Fla.) News-Journal, Nigel Cook, "Birds and Bathers."

Sports Photography: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Brant Sanderlin, "Flag Draped Fan Runs Alongside Lance Armstrong"; The Boston Globe, Jim Davis, "Foul Play"; Las Vegas Sun, Sam Morris, "Twisted Wrestlers."

Magazines, News Services, Syndicates
Spot News Photography: First Place and Grand Award in Photography, Associated Press, Khalid Mohammed, "American Deaths"; Time magazine, Shaul Schwarz-Corbis, "Haitian Looter"; Bloomberg News, Namas Bhojani, "Tsunami Victim."

Feature Photography: Associated Press, Emilio Morenatti, "Afghan Girls"; Time magazine, Alexandra Boulat, "Sardinian Centenarian"; Reuters, Lawrence Downing, "Hanz and Franz."

Sports Photography: Sports Illustrated, Bob Martin, "Leap of Faith"; Associated Press, Dave Martin, "Mickelson Wins"; Time magazine, Adam Pretty, "Rulon Gardner Retires."

Photography Portfolio: Time magazine, James Nachtwey; The Philadelphia Inquirer, David Swanson; St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Robert Cohen.

Photo Essay: Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Dan DeLong, "A Time to Live"; Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Benjamin Krain, "Reconstructing Afghanistan"; Time magazine, James Nachtwey, "The Tragedy of Sudan."

Photography for College Publications: University of Colorado-Denver, Jason Bye; no second- or third-place awards given.

Informational Graphics: The (Portland) Oregonian, Steve Cowden, Derrik Quenzer and Eric Baker; The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, William Neff; The Charlotte (N.C.) Observer, Wm. Pitzer

Illustrative Graphics: The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, Andrea Levy; Akron (Ohio) Beacon Journal, editorial artists; San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News, Doug Griswold.

BROADCAST DIVISION
Radio Stations
Best Newscast: KCBS, San Francisco, KCBS News Team; WBAL, Baltimore, Bill Vanko, John Patti and Anne Kramer, "The Execution of Steven Oken."

Coverage of a Breaking News Event, Continuing Coverage, Documentary or Series of Reports: WMFE, Orlando, Fla., Pat Duggins, Scott Kim & Bud Lowell, "Columbia Remembered"; Chicago Public Radio, Jay Field and Cate Cahan, "Education Referenda"; WFDD, North Carolina, Stephanie Martin, "Answering the Call."

Feature or Human Interest Story: First Place and Grand Award: WNYC, New York, Jad Abumrad, Aaron Cohen and Elena Park, "The Ring and I: The Passion, The Myth, The Mania"; Wisconsin Public Radio, Brian Bull, "End of a Red-Hunter's Crusade: The Censure of Joseph McCarthy"; WFDD, North Carolina, Stephanie Martin, "Tannenberg Organ"

Public Affairs: Rowan Radio 89.7 WGLS-FM, Glassboro, N.J., Rob Lightfoot, Melissa Cassara, Alisa Hogan and Frank Hogan, "Tobacco: Filtering Out the Truth"; WCPN, Cleveland, Dave Pignanelli, Paul Cox and Marie Andrusewicz, "90.3 at 9"; KTCU, Fort Worth, Texas, Sean Greene, "Wildlife Radio."

Broadcast Radio Networks and Syndicators

Best Newscast: CBS Radio News, Christopher Glenn and Paul Farry; CBS Radio News, Dan Rather, Bill Whitney and Frank Teltsch, "Reagan Funeral"; ABC News Radio, ABC Radio News staff, "Information Network."

Coverage of a Breaking News Event, Continuing Coverage, Documentary or Series of Reports: CBS Radio News, "Reagan"; CBS Radio News, "Campaign '04"; ABC Radio News, Kathy Healy and ABC News Radio Staff, "Road to the White House."

Feature or Human Interest Story: Colorado Public Radio-KCFR's Colorado Matters, Dan Drayer and Kelley Griffin, "A Day in the Life of a Lawmaker"; Common Ground Radio and The Stanley Foundation, Kristin McHugh and Keith Porter, "Congo: Displaced in the Heart of Darkness"; Trillium Media, Sandra Sleight-Brennan, "Deep in Our Hearts."

Public Affairs: ABC News Radio, Hank Weinbloom, Ryan Kessler and Sylvia Chase, "Perspective"; KCRW, Santa Monica, Calif., Warren Olney and Karen Radziner, "To The Point"; Great Lakes Radio Consortium, Ann Arbor, Mich., Lester Graham and Mark Brush, "Dead Zone Series."

Broadcast or Cable Television Stations
Best Newscast: KIRO-TV, Seattle, KIRO News Team, "KIRO 7 Eyewitness News"; WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, Maria Dravecky and Matthew Hilk, "Action News at 5:00"; WFAA-TV, Dallas, Robert Cartwright and Art MacLaren, "News 8 Update: Call for Help."

Coverage of a Breaking News Event: WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, Jake Ploeger and Jon Greiner and Maria Dravecky, "Manhunt"; Bay News 9, staff, "Radio Shack Shooting"; WHNS Fox Carolina News, staff, "Hostage Crisis."

Continuing Coverage of a Single News Event: WJW-TV, Cleveland, Tom Merriman, Bill Sheil and Lorrie Taylor, "Secrets and Lies"; WCVB-TV, Boston, staff, "Boston Hosts the DNC"; News 12 Westchester, N.Y., Tracy Everson, Paul Simone, Bart Bellarmi and Konstandino Stratigeas, "Budget Battle."

Feature, Sports or Human Interest Story: News 12 Long Island, N.Y., Elizabeth Hashagen and Michael DelGiudice, "Hope"; WTVJ-TV, Miramar, Fla., Patricia Andreu, Scott Zamost and Pedro Cancio, "Touched by Angels"; WFAA-TV, Dallas, Sean Hamilton and Arnold Payne, "Conquering the Dream."

Public Service: WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, Angie Moreschi, Bill Ditton and Gerry Lanosga, "Failure to Protect-Cries for Help"; WTVJ-TV, Miramar, Fla., Patricia Andreau, Scott Zamost and Pedro Cancio, "911 Disconnect"; News 12 New Jersey, Edison, N.J., Walt Kane, William Schlosser and Anthony Cocco, "Handicapped Buses."

Documentary or Series of Reports: First Place and Grand Award in Television: WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, Anne Ryder, Steve Starnes and Jason Richards, "To Hell and Back"; WHYY, Philadelphia, "Presidential Conversations"; KIRO-TV, Ben Saboonchian, Peter Frerichs and Rick Woolery, "The Troubled Waters of Puget Sound."

Investigative Reporting: WJW-TV, Cleveland, Tom Merriman, Dave Hollis and Matt Rafferty, "CPD Death Squad"; KCTV-TV, Kansas City, Kan., Steve Chamraz, John McGrath and Sam Zeff, "Internet Predators"; KCNC-TV, Denver, Carisa Scott, Brian Maass and Kevin Hartfield, "Water Thieves"

Business and Consumer Reporting: WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, Wendy Bell, Ralph Bell and Mike Lazorko, "Airfare Secrets"; WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, Sandra Chapman, Bill Ditton and Gerry Lanosga, "As Good as New?"; WFLD-TV, Chicago, Mark Saxenmeyer, Paulina Sztylka and Lou Hinkhouse, "Living with Lasik."

Broadcast Television Networks, Cable Networks and Syndicators

Best Newscast: NBC Nightly News, staff, "Tsunami: One Day After"; NBC Nightly News, staff, "Death of a President"; CNN, Aaron Brown, Sharan Van Zwieten and Chris Adair, "NewsNight With Aaron Brown: Lady Liberty."

Coverage of a Major News Event: Dateline NBC, David Corvo, Marc Rosenwasser & Stone Phillips, "Remembering Ronald Reagan"; MSNBC, "Battleground America: Winning the White House"; CNN, "Anderson Cooper 360: Wave of Destruction."

Continuing Coverage of a Major News Event: Independent Television News, of London, Lindsay Hilsum and Tim Lambon, "Target: Fallujah," aired by The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer; CNBC, Scott Cohn, Mary Thompson and Patti Domm, "Insurance Scandal"; NBC Nightly News, Jim Maceda, Dawna Friesen and Yuka Tachibana, "Russian School Siege."

Feature, Sports or Human Interest Story: ABC News Primetime Thursday, Jay Schadler, Clem Taylor and Gina Pampinella, "My Friend Rocket"; CNN, Tom Foreman, Stephanie Halasz, Laura Bernardini, Brian Puchaty and Joshua Rubin, "G.I. St. Nick"; NBC "Today" Show, Stephanie Giambruno, Melissa Stark and Kevin Maninno, "Against the Odds Series."

Documentary or Series of Reports: CNN, Aaron Brown, Beth Nissen and Amanda Townsend, "NewsNight with Aaron Brown: War Dead Series"; Dateline NBC, Marc Rosenwasser, Keith Morrison and Vince Sturla, "Secrets and Lies"; CNN, Kathy Slobogin and David Ensor, "Warsaw Rising: The Forgotten Soldiers of World War II."

Investigative Reporting: Dateline NBC, Richard Greenberg and Chris Hansen, "Children for Sale"; ABC News Primetime, Diane Sawyer, Robbie Gordon and Ira Rosen, "Fighting for Care"; ABC News 20/20, Brian Ross and Jill Rackmill, "The Royal Treatment."

News Magazine Program: Dateline NBC, Marc Rosenwasser, Elizabeth Cole and Benita Alexander-Noel, "Tom Brokaw: Eyewitness to History"; CNN, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Carol Kinstle and Caleb Hellerman, "The First Patient: Health and the Presidency?"; ABC News Productions, Lisa Zeff, Caroline Sommers and Peri Muldofsky, "Court TV Safety Challenge: Children at Risk."

Business and Consumer Reporting: CNBC, Sue Herera, Steve Liesman and Wally Griffith, "CNBC on Russia"; CNBC, Jim Goldman and Candice Tahi, "Nanotech Series"; Public Affairs Television NOW, of New York, with Bill Moyers, Brenda Breslauer, Sylvia Chase and Candice Waldron, "New Medicare, Old Story."